Friction clasp



May 12, 1964 A. sussMAN STEINBERG 3,132,393

FRICTION CLASP Filed Jan. 24, 1962 l//VFNTR MCH@ @lkw UnitedStates Patent O 3,132,393 FRIC'IION CLASP Adalberto Sussman Steinberg, Via Frassinetti 25, Milan, Italy Filed `lan.. 24, 1%2, Ser. No. 168,392 Claims priority, application italy May 27, 1961 7 Claims. (Cl. 24-71) Friction clasps are already known such as are made up of three members hinged together one after the other, the two free ends being fixed to the ends of the straps to be closed and locked, while the central portion is used to exert tension, being brought to a position parallel to and in between the rst and last portion and being latched into one of them to ensure satisfactory closure.

It has beenfound that on one hand these friction clasps are expensive and, on the other hand, that they do not provide a sure, stable closure, because one of the two end portions remains free, so that the pair which is latched together is able to raise itself up at an angle and create a protrusion which bothers the wearer.

This invention relates to a friction clasp, made up of a set of three members, hinged together, one after the other, characterized by the fact that the central member comprises only a stirrup, which serves only as a connecting link with hinge-like action for the other two members, without taking part in the actual locking of the strap and that the lengthwise edges of the two outer members have protruding flanges, turned inwards, with concave crosssections so they will snap together.

In one preferred form of embodiment of this invention the friction clasp comprises, in addition, an end plate provided with a set of catches, to one of which the free end of the outside member is latched on, said plate being firmly attached to the second, free end of the band or strap, or to other connecting base, making it possible to disengage or separate the connection.

The accompanying drawing is a schematic illustration given by way of example and non-restrictive, showing two forms of embodiment of the invention, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the friction clasp partially open.

FG. 2 shows three members, hinged together, one after another in the open position, shown as a plan View.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal section along line II-II in FIG. 2 of the three members in their closed, locked position, that is, overlapping one another.

FIG. 4 is a cross section taken along line III-III of FIG. 3 to show the mutual cooperation between the flanges when tripped shut.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view like that in FIG. l of a second form of embodiment of the invention, with the end latch plate capable of being disengaged to allow the band or strap connection to be separated or broken when required.

The improved friction clasp embodying the invention is made up of three members, the rst member A having the form of a buckle, flanged at 5 with a tongue 6, designed to pass through lengthwise by one of the ends of strap 7 and to be fixed to the latter in a stable manner, which, nevertheless, is capable of being adjusted to a different position; a second member B, having a plate-like shape, being flanged at lil, designed to be firmly mounted at the opposite end of strap or band 11 or other object to be joined up; a third member C, having the shape of a wire, U-shaped stirrup, the legs of which 3 have their ends bent outwards at 8 at right angles to form pins acting as fulcrums, passing through holes 9, located in flanges 5 of piece A, while the bottom of the U is enclosed and surrounded by an end extension protruding from piece B and curved to form a tubular passage 12 so as to serve as a second fulcrum. Plate B has one or more holes 13 for 3,132,393 Patented May 12, 1964 application to the object to be closed or clasped, by means of button, eye, or rivet 14. End members A and B, stamped or otherwise formed from sheet metal, have their lengthwise edges formed by two flanges each, 5 and 5, and 10 and 10, respectively, with curved cross-section, being concave on the inner sides, so that the two flanges, for example 1t) of member B can enter and snap in place between the two flanges 5 of the other member A, while the stirrup C in between remains housed in the -space existing between the two flanges 10 of member B. Stirrup C may also have the form of a plate or strip with suitable hinge parts at its ends.

When special requirements of application make it necessary that the clasp and associated band or strap be separable to give a broader or larger opening passage, end member B, instead of being fixed to the other end of band or strap 11 or other connecting base by means of rivet or button 14 can be hooked on or linked up by means of its hole 13 with one of the catches or hooks 15 of an added plate 16, fixed to end 11 of the strap or other connecting base. Member B may have an opening 17 at its central portion to house protruding catches or hooks 15 in the various adjustment positions.

The clasp embodying the invention takes up very little space; it is fiat, with rounded corners so as not to present any protruding edges such as could catch or strike against other objects and thus remains perfectly shut, without any danger that one of the members could raise up even part-ways thereupon being subject to being pulled open all the way. The three members can be manufactured without loss of time for special processing and materials; furthermore, they are very easily and quickly assembled.

What l claim is:

l. A friction clasp for joining two ends of a band comprising, in combination, a pair of elongated substantially plate shaped outer members having each along longitudinal edges thereof a pair of flanges concavely inwardly curved and extending transverse to the plane of the plate shaped member, each of said plate shaped outer members being affixed to a corresponding end of said band; and a central member hinged at opposite ends thereof to ends of said plate shaped outer members so that said members are movable from an extended position aligned one after the other substantially in a plane to a folded position in which said plate shaped outer members are superimposed upon each other and engaged directly together with said central member sandwiched inactive and at rest between said outer members, the flanges on one of said outer members projecting upwardly therefrom and the flanges on the other of said outer members projecting downward` ly therefrom and all of said flanges being curved inwardly across their width so that the flanges on one of said outer members engage with a snap action the flanges on the other of said outer members when said members are turned from said extended to said folded position so as to .hold in the latter position said outer members laterally superimposed and contacting each other for a substantial portion thereof.

2. A friction clasp Ias set :forth -in claim l in which the flanges lon said outer members extend `only along parts of Ithe longitudinal edges thereof.

3. A friction clasp for joining two ends of a band cornpristing, in combination, a pair of elongated substantially plate shaped outer members having each along longitudinal edges thereof a pair of flanges concavely inwardly curved and extending transverse to the plane of the plate shaped member, each of said plate shaped outer members being alhxed to a corresponding end of said band, the flanges in one of said outer members being respectively Iformed adjacent one end edge thereof With a pair of holes aligned with each other `along an axis extending in direction transverse to the elongation of said one outer member and .the other of said outer members being formed at one end edge thereof with a tubular passage substantially parallel to said axis; and a central substantially U-shaped twire member lhaving a 4pair `of llegs connected by la bottom portion extending .through said tubular passage and the free ends of said legs being outwardly bent -and extending through said aligned holes so that said central member is hinged at opposite ends thereof to said outer members, whereby said members are movable from an extended position aligned one `after the other 4substantially in a plane toa folded position in which said plate shaped outer members are superimposed upon each other iand engaged directly together With said central member sandwiched inactive :and at rest between said outer members, the iianges on one yof said outer members projecting upwardly therefrom and the flanges on the other of said outer members projecting downwardly therefrom and -all of said flanges being curved yacross their width so that the anges on one of said outer members engage Awith a snap action the flanges on the other of said outer members when said members are turned from said extended to said folded position so as to hold in the latter position said outer members laterally superimposed and contacting eachother for -a substantial portion thereof.

4. A friction clasp as set forth in claim 3 in which the legs of said U-shaped wire members extend between said bottom portion 'and said free ends thereof substantially parallel to and spaced from each other a distance slightly smaller than .the closest ldistance of said -anges from each other.

5. A friction clasp as set forth 4in claim 3 and including means for fastening said outer members to straps or the like.

6. A friction clasp as set forth in claim 5 in which said fastening means include a plate shaped fastening member adapted to be fastened to a strap and having :a hook shaped pontion projecting upwardly from said plate shaped fastening member and in vwhich one of said plate shaped outer members is formed at the other end thereof fwith a slot for engagement with said hook shaped portion.

7. A friction clasp as set `forth fin claim 6 in which said plate shaped `fastening member lis elongated and has a plurality of hook shaped portions aligned in direction of the elongation of said fastening member -and in which said one outer member is additionally formed with an elongated cutout through which, when one of said hook shaped portions is engaged in said slot, the other hook shaped portions may project.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,729,793 -Myrberg Oct. 1, 1929 1,830,660 Johnson Nov. 3, 1931 1,861,029 Sand May 3l, 1932 2,001,056 Domler May 14, 1935 2,069,978 Stahl Feb. 9, 1937 2,457,200 Bikof Dec. 28, 1948 2,532,840 Gaum Dec. 5, 1950 2,613,415 Ritter Oct. 14, 1952 2,987,790 Sussman June 13, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 211,193 Austria Sept. 26, 1960 

1. A FRICTION CLASP FOR JOINING TWO ENDS OF A BAND COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A PAIR OF ELONGATED SUBSTANTIALLY PLATE SHAPED OUTER MEMBERS HAVING EACH ALONG LONGITUDINAL EDGES THEREOF A PAIR OF FLANGES CONCAVELY INWARDLY CURVED AND EXTENDING TRANSVERSE TO THE PLANE OF THE PLATE SHAPED MEMBER, EACH OF SAID PLATE SHAPED OUTER MEMBERS BEING AFFIXED TO A CORRESPONDING END OF SAID BAND; AND A CENTRAL MEMBER HINGED AT OPPOSITE ENDS THEREOF TO ENDS OF SAID PLATE SHAPED OUTER MEMBERS SO THAT SAID MEMBERS ARE MOVABLE FROM AN EXTENDED POSITION ALIGNED ONE AFTER THE OTHER SUBSTANTIALLY IN A PLANE TO A FOLDED POSITION IN WHICH SAID PLATE SHAPED OUTER MEMBERS ARE SUPERIMPOSED UPON EACH OTHER AND ENGAGED DIRECTLY TOGETHER WITH SAID CENTRAL MEMBER SANDWICHED INACTIVE AND A REST BETWEEN SAID OUTER MEMBERS, THE FLANGES ON ONE OF SAID OUTER MEMBERS PROJECTING UPWARDLY THEREFROM AND THE FLANGES ON THE OTHER OF SAID OUTER MEMBERS PROJECTING DOWNWARDLY THEREFROM AND ALL OF SAID FLANGES BEING CURVED INWARDLY ACROSS THEIR WIDTH SO THAT THE FLANGES ON ONE OF SAID OUTER MEMBERS ENGAGE WITH A SNAP ACTION THE FLANGES ON THE OTHER OF SAID OUTER MEMBERS WHEN SAID MEMBERS ARE TURNED FROM SAID EXTENDED TO SAID FOLDED POSITION SO AS TO HOLD IN THE LATTER POSITION SAID OUTER MEMBERS LATERALLYU SUPERIMPOSED AND CONTACTING EACH OTHER FOR A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION THEREOF. 